Tag: STRIKE

COMMUNITY Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director, Mr Itai Rusike has warned that the prevailing health crisis at Parirenyatwa Hospital could soon become a national disaster if government does not treat it with the urgency it deserves. By Michael Gwarisa The health crisis at Parirenyatwa has seen consultant doctors downing tools after the institutions failed to allocate the necessary resources which include medical sundries, drugs and equipment. In other instances, unconfirmed number of deaths have been reported from the burns, maternal and emergency wards owing to the resources crisis.…

THE 40 days long industrial action by medical doctors has officially come to an end following government’s commitment to address the doctors grievances. By Michael Gwarisa and Kudakwashe Pembere In an official statement by the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), they confirmed the development and called on all doctors who had downed tools to resume their work. “ZHDA is delighted to inform the membership, members of the press and public that the industrial action by doctors in Government hospitals has come to an end. “It has been 40 straight days…

THERE seems to be discord in the striking doctors camp amidst indications that some doctors have already resumed work despite the organisation representing them alleging that those who have resumed work have sold the struggle. By Michael Gwarisa and Kudakwashe Pembere According to Health Services Board (HSB) executive Chairman Dr Paulinus Sikosana, a health service bipartite negotiating forum was held which led to the two parties agreeing to end the strike after agreeing on certain areas. However, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Secretary General, Dr Anele Bhebhe poured water…

STRIKING doctors have dismissed reports making rounds on various media platforms stating that they have agreed to resume work after being convinced by First Lady, Auxilia Mnangagwa to end the strike. By Kudakwashe Pembere A meeting was held at the State House between the First Lady and the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association where the former reportedly charmed the latter into halting the strike while their grievances were being addressed by Government. In an interview with HealthTimes, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) spokesperson, Dr Anele Bhebe said there has not been…

ZIMBABWE is experiencing what could be termed the worst industrial action by members of the medical fraternity since the birth of Christ. Junior Doctors, Senior Doctors and Registrars have all joined in the strike and nurses will soon be joining in. In 2018 alone, Zimbabwe recorded three major strikes by health personnel which ended after government negotiated and promised to attend to the needs to of the striking doctors. As for the nurses, it did not end well for them as government through intervention of Vice President, Retried General Constantine…

MEDICAL consultants who had been filling up gaps left by striking doctors at public health institutions have given government 48 hours to end the the deadlock between government and striking doctors amidst indications that the situation at public hospitals has become untenable. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing Journalist, Zimbabwe Medial Association (ZIMA) Secretary General (SG), Dr Sacrifice Chirisa said they have received a communication from consultants highlighting that the situation was no longer workable. He urged government and the health services board (HSB) to open the door to dialogue and pave way…

GOVERNMENT and medical practitioners should speedily negotiate and return the health sector to normalcy so as to to end the unnecessary loss of lives, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has warned. HealthTimes Reporter The call comes hot on the heels of an abrupt suspension of more than 500 junior doctors who commenced a strike which today marks its 27th day citing poor living and working conditions which have been exacerbated by poor remuneration and lack of medicines and hospital equipment. In a statement, ZADHR said it…

STRIKING health personnel defied the Labour Court order of showing up at work this morning resulting in the Health Service Board threatening punitive measures as empowered by the court. By Kudakwashe Pembere Addressing journalists on Sunday, HSB Vice President Professor Auxilia Chideme-Mungofa could not reveal the type of action to be taken. It emerged that about 553 doctors went on industrial action since December 1. “Government is accordingly proceeding to institute disciplinary action against all health workers who participated in the unlawful collective job action,” she said. Justices Gladys Mhuri…

THE incumbent members of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association met with Health and Childcare Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo to resolve their grievances which have left the public health sector in limbo. By Kudakwashe Pembere It appears the Minister met with old association members that have since been replaced where he tabled ways Government would intervene to solve their issues. Following the meeting, the interim members lashed out in concern stating they never sat down with the Minister. This forced a fresh meeting on Wednesday to iron out the outstanding problems…

SENIOR medical doctors in Zimbabwe’s major hospitals have joined the industrial action citing they are swamped with work in the absence of striking junior colleagues. By Kudakwashe Pembere Letters dated December 4, gleaned by HealthTimes from Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Mpilo Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals showed that hospital medical officers hung their boots throwing their weight behind the junior doctors. Among the grievances particularly from the junior doctors are unsatisfactory working conditions where they claim not to have adequate tools for their job. “As House Medical Officers (HMOs), at…